Church launches Auckland's first Little Free Food Pantry

Mention Ponsonby Rd, and the first thing that comes to mind probably isn't homelessness and poverty.

But the iconic Auckland street, which straddles Newton, Freemans Bay and the swanky suburb it shares its name with, is home to a food bank with a difference.

The Unitarian Church has opened New Zealand's first Little Free Food Pantry. It's a cross between an honesty box and a traditional food bank - anyone who needs food can take some, no questions asked. Others are encouraged to leave some behind.

"It's totally democratic - you don't need to make an appointment," says church member Kay Parish. "You just turn up and give what you can, take what you can."

Ms Parish got the idea after reading about the Little Free Food Pantry movement which has swept the US in recent months. The church set up its pantry a few weeks ago, and Ms Parish been making sure it stays full.

"Everyone in the community contributes - it's not just us. We're just providing the vehicle for it to happen."

She hopes in time, the pantry will become self-sustaining without the church having to fill it every day - and it does need filling, every day.

"It's really a bottomless pit. We could just pour money into it and the food would go, but we're just doing what we can and hoping other people will join in."

A thank you note left by a user of the Little Free Food Pantry.
Photo credit: Kay Parish/supplied

Ms Parish hopes other churches and communities will set up Little Free Food Pantries of their own.

"This is just our little patch. I would hope that other people would look after their own patches once the idea takes off. It's meant to be owned by the local community."

The pantry is located outside the Unitarian Church on Ponsonby Rd.
Photo credit: Kay Parish/supplied